Hartwig and Sylvia or (Iris): Little House (Part ten). New Doctor in town.
Meanwhile back in Walnut grove, Albert was having a strange set of experiences. Finally after Charles had set the telegram a new doctor is now working in Walnut Grove. Since Doctor Baker had also taken sick with the local town's people, another doctor by the name of James Rocker had come to rescue the people of Walnut grove.
Everyone who has talked to the new doctor seems to like him, even Charles Ingalls. James seemed to always be fancy dress western style clothing all the time. James seemed to do a few things different than Doctor Baker, but no one seemed to mind. Even doctor Baker even is indebted to the new doctor coming to Walnut Grove taking care of his people when he couldn't.
One day when Albert was helping his sister Carrie eat a bowl of soup he was having headaches and chest pains, he put up with it most of the day cause there was not too many other to depend on for help. Some of the men who were willing and able went to look for Sylvia. Albert knew by now they wouldn't find her, he figured that she could have slipped out of town when no one was looking.
James the new doctor walks over by Albert who was in his wheel chair collecting the soup bowl and rags he used to help keep things clean while his sister was taking in nourishment, James sits in a pew that left on the back wall for a five minute break. He watches Albert wheel himself around and helping with any task he could. James asked him finally "Feeling alright there son? Looking a little jet lagged there". Albert replies "I am okay sir; it's all these towns people who need you more than me". James says gently "I am here to serve everyone even you and your local doctor!" Albert smiles and says "Sure".
James wouldn't give up on Albert, he has seen him moving around in the wheel chair, and even got into a conversation about it with his mother who told him the whole story. James asked him while they was waiting on the me to come back from searching for Sylvia James asked him, "Ever think of trying to walk again son?"
Albert turns to James who was a very nice looking man, somewhere in his late 20's early thirties. Always all dressed up in the finest threads, even fancier than doctor baker. Albert knew by now he would have to answer James sometime soon, because James was not the kind to give up easily. Albert tried to be honest, "Noooo, not really, have had other issues on my mind". James offers kindly, "Well, if you think about it son, if I should still be here when this epidemic is over I can or would like to help you out". Albert looks at him and says "thanks, but it's okay". James smiles and says "I'll let you think about it, is all I am saying for now, I need to get back to work, take a break son, I'll go tend to the others".
Albert finally sits on back in his wheel chair and does what the new doctor says. It seems like this new doctor has that wonderful quality and a voice of authority that you couldn't help but listen to and if you didn't he had that look he would give you if you didn't. Even Albert seems to like the new doctor as well.
…
Laura and Amlanzo were finally coming home from their trip out west. Laura was saying as Amlanzo was making way towards Walnut Grove, she says "Manly, I think we've been set up! By someone! I think somebody for some reason had wanted us out of town!" Almanzo looks at Laura and says "But who would that be? "We don't have any enemies that we know of do we?" Laura looks at Almanzo and says "Dear, I got this funny gut feeling about all of this". Almanzo sighs and says "Maybe your just reading too much into it, soon we'll be back home things will be okay".
Finally Laura talked Almanzo into going right on into town instead of going home first, and he did. Once he finally did see Walnut Grove again it was quite. He stopped the buggy at the general store. Almanzo looks around as well as Laura. She says "Everything is so quite here, what has been going on since we've been gone?" Out of the store came out Nels Olsen. Laura jumps off the buck board to get caught up on what has been going on. Nels also walks down the steps with Laura and she hops back on the buck board seat, as he continues to talk to Laura and Almanzo, he directs them to the hospital church so Laura could go get reunited with her family.
Almanzo says "Thanks Nels see you over there in a little bit, Almanzo taps on the reins of his horses and they head over to the end of the street where the church is. Almanzo takes parking near the shade tree on the west side of the church. Almanzo sees a strange buggy taking his usual parking spot and comments "Hey Beth I can tell that we got a fancy guy in town must be the new doctor's buggy". "He must be rich!" Laura nudges Almanzo as a way of telling him to remind him of his manners.
James Rocker the new town's doctor comes on out and watches carefully Laura and Almanzo coming up the steps to the church. He stops them cold in their tracks. He says sternly and smoothly, "far as you are going, unless you are related to anyone in there". "This church has been isolated and kept under strict surveillance, until this epidemic is resolved".
It just so happens Albert heard the people talking outside and wheeled over to the door of the church and nudged James on the elbow and when James turned to look at Albert, Albert said "that's my sister and her husband you can let them in, their family". James nods in approval, and says "Thanks son glad to have your help. Laura and Almanzo you can come in".
Laura was stunned that James already knew their names. Laura didn't ask because she was worried about her ma being sick. Laura got into the church and went straight to Ma's cot, and she also looked in on Carrie and Grace too who were all sleeping. Almanzo looked around at the full room of the sick people in the church. He could spot Doctor Baker and even Mr. Webb Sylvia's Pa too.
Almanzo asks James "How long has the Doctor and Hector Webb been sick for?" James says as he shrugs his shoulders "hard to say really they both have been sick for long enough now; I hope someone will get better soon". "Hector seems to be the one who is sick the worst though I am not sure if he might pull through or not". Almanzo sighs sadly and ask "You think his age might be working against him? He is about seventy or so?" James shrugs and says "Could be or it could be a combination of things".
James continues "I give him his meds but doesn't seem to respond to most of them". Almanzo says "Anything I can help with?" James started to think about Hector's situation and asks Almanzo "What is Hector's background? He has family or anything?" Almanzo had decided it was time to tell James what was going on with the Webb family the strange case of Hector, Sylvia and Mr. Hartwig. After an ear full of the happenings of Walnut grove James says "More excitement here than my home town!"
Almanzo explains, "This is just a few little quirks of this little town sir". James smiles at Alamanzo as says "Well, I might try to stay on after this epidemic is over might be an exciting experience!" James also asks some more questions to Almanzo about Mr. Hartwig and his background, once the conversation was over with; James said "Yeah Hartwig seems like an interesting fellow, wondering if he likes to play with me sometime!" Almanzo looks confused at James last sentence but shakes his head, and tries to pretend he didn't hear it. Laura was calling Amlanzo and he left James by himself to go tend to Laura and Caroline.
James went over to Mr. Webb's cot and took first watch. It was time for his medicine and James knew Hector has been refusing medicine every time he tries to give it to him, finally after several minutes of fight with Hector James did get a little medicine down him but not much. James gives up and lets the old man rest on his cot breathing heavily, James watching the other and he whispers to Hector "Old man I will get to the bottom of this for you, some has poisoned some of these people.
I came here on a mission, and I will see it through for you, I got a haunch I already know who it is". After James said that He sits back on the cot to get more comfortable, but James was quick to realize something happened to Hector. He wasn't breathing or moving around anymore. James took his pulse and felt his hands they were cold quickly James stands all the way up, for a six foot two man James looked very tall and long legged to everyone else around him. James takes his hat and put it across his chest.
Almanzo seen James does this and comes over Albert Laura all stop what they're doing and witness it. Almanzo comes over and asks "Did Hector pass on?" James says "Yes, sadly he did. I tried my best but it was just too late". James pulls the covers up on Hector Webb, the first victim of the illness since its outbreak. James has a stern look on his face that even scares Almanzo a bit. James made the comment, "I will be here and be the one to finish this business!" (To be continued).